Sierra Rec Magazine – alpine County – Jan.1, 2022 – A new years tradition for us at the magazine in to go out snowshoeing or hiking on New Years Day. I used to be a football all day kind of guy, but have found that starting my year with a great outdoor adventure is just what I need mentally.
In 2022 we start the year with great snow conditions as much of the sierra saw record levels of snow in the month of December. For us driving 30 miles out of town into Alpine County and the Hope Valley region is a preferred destination. Fewer people than Lake Tahoe and wide open scenic areas give us unlimited routes and options for a day in the snow.
How do you choose where to go?
One of the questions I get often, is ” How do you know where to go?” Truth is I use maps a lot in my life but with Snowshoeing it is more about seeing an open parking area with terrain that looks and feels right for the day. I love snowshoeing because following a trail is not mandatory. Often I enjoy getting out of the tracks and make my own path in the snow. There are so many areas that I typically would not hike, that in the snow I am drawn to that area.
If you are looking to get started snowshoeing, then we encourage you to go places where others are parked and follow a path to get started. In Alpine County popular areas are Pickets Junction, Then there are several roadside pull outs on HWY 88 that give you great base of the mountain walking areas.
Bluebird Skies and Wind Blown Snow Drifts
On January 1, 2022, we choose a roadside spot a few miles past the Blue Lake highway just before the old cabin that everyone photo graphs in the fall. This area is popular for cross country skiers on the Southside of the road and Back country skiers on the North Side of the road. This meadow area is home of Red Lake Creek and is where the creek from Crater Lake comes across the HWY 88 into the meadow.
I love this area because it provides meadow and hill climbing for snowshoeing, plus the scenic 360 views of Reds Peak, Carson Pass and the mountains around Burnside lake are spectacular. On a blue bird day like today, you can see so many details on the mountain sides dressed in white. the thing that stood out was the pawer of the wind in this region.
Not only on the mountain tops which are blown clean in some areas, but in the valley where we walk the snow blown crust under our feet and the deep blown drifts were deep up next to the mountains.
Bring a Sled
One of our families favorite things to do in the Hope Valley area is to pack in a sled with us while we snowshoe. we do this because we often like sledding where we don’t have other people, plus we find some great slopes that are not traditionally found. On this day the kids brought multiple sled and found the small hills across the meadow a lot of fun as the slopes are a bit like a roller coaster as they build several places to sled for he afternoon while I snowshoed around the meadow.
Forgot the Sunscreen
With bluebird skies in the mountains it is important to remember how warm and reflective the sun is on the snow. I forgot sunscreen yesterday and my face could feel the burn after about 2 hours of hiking around in the meadow. We recommend getting that sunscreen in your day pack if heading out for a day in the snow.